9. Such Is the Melancholy Backdrop of This Century's End - Francois Furet-- Notes.

(source: Nielsen Book Data)

In his major work on communism, the international bestseller "The Passing of an Illusion", the eminent French historian Francois Furet devoted a lengthy footnote to German historian Ernst Nolte's interpretation of fascism. Nolte responded, a correspondence ensued, and the result was the remarkable exchange presented in this volume. "Fascism and Communism" offers readers the rare opportunity to witness and learn from a confrontation between two of the world's most distinguished historians over one of the most serious subjects of our time, the history and meaning of the attack on liberal democracy by fascism and communism. Far more than an exchange of opposing views between scholars but rather an instance of that rarity, a true dialogue, the letters in this volume give a uniquely informed and insightful overview of the history of the twentieth century, beginning with the enormous impact of World War I, and of the ties and essential differences between the three 'tyrannies' of the century: fascism, Nazism, and communism. Analysing the interdependence of these phenomena with regard to ideas and then to passions, Furet's and Nolte's arguments help readers to understand not only the nature of totalitarianism but also the trajectory and interpretation of modern European history in general. Francois Furet (1927-1997) was one of France's most respected historians. His books include "The Passing of an Illusion: The Idea of Communism in the Twentieth Century" and "Revolutionary France, 1770-1880". Ernst Nolte is a leading German historian and the author of such books as "Marxism, Fascism, Cold War" and "Three Faces of Fascism: Action Francaise, Italian Fascism, National Socialism". Katherine Golsan, assistant professor of French at the University of the Pacific, is cotranslator of Tzvetan Todorov's "Life in Common: An Essay in General Anthropology" (Nebraska 2001). (source: Nielsen Book Data)